Urinary Tract Infection Treatment (UTI) Specialist Q&A

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that can be found in your bladder, ureters, kidneys, or urethra, essentially at any point in your urinary system. Typically, UTIs affect the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra and can be very uncomfortable and sometimes painful during urination.

Women are more susceptible to developing a UTI than men. 

Although a UTI in your bladder area can be painful and annoying, it is not necessarily going to cause complications or further issues if properly treated. However, if left untreated and the infection spreads to your kidneys, it can have severe consequences and so the infection must be addressed and treated as soon as possible. Dr. Pedro P. Ylisastigui is able to properly diagnose and treat UTIs before they can spread and cause more serious issues.

Causes
One of the main causes of a urinary tract infection is bacteria entering your urinary tract through your urethra. When the bacteria start to multiply in your bladder, this will cause an infection.

Your urinary system is always to keep bacteria at bay, but this defense mechanism can sometimes fail. If the bacteria take hold and multiply inside your bladder, you will be left with a urinary tract infection.

• Bladder infection (cystitis). This type of UTI is caused by a bacteria known as Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is usually found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Sexual intercourse is one way – but not the only way to get it. Unfortunately, a woman’s anatomy (the short distance from the urethra to the anus and that of the urethral opening to the bladder) puts women at an elevated risk of cystitis. 

• Urethra infection (urethritis). When GI bacteria spread from the anus to the urethra, you will develop this type of UTI. Sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea, herpes, mycoplasma and chlamydia, can also cause urethritis.

Urinary tract infections are typically treated with antibiotics, but there is no need to wait until you get a UTI. You can take preventative measures to reduce your chances of getting one. For more information on preventative measures, reach out to Dr Pedro P. Ylisastigui to book an appointment to discuss your options.

Some types of urinary tract infections can resolve on their own, but it is not advisable to wait and see if it will. If an untreated UTI spreads to other parts of your body, such as your kidneys, it can lead to serious consequences and become potentially life-threatening. Dr Pedro P. Ylisastigui can easily diagnose your UTI and provide you with a treatment plan to clear up your UTI quickly and easily.

If you find that you have abdominal pain and your symptoms begin to worsen, you should contact your doctor immediately, as this could be a sign that the infection is spreading. Pregnant women should be especially careful.

Symptoms of urinary tract infections aren’t always visible or noticeable right away, but here are some tell-tale signs that you may have one.

• A strong, persistent urge to urinate.
• A burning sensation when urinating.
• Passing frequent, small amounts of urine.
• Urine that appears cloudy.
• Urine that appears bright pink or red could be a sign of blood in your urine. 
• Strong-smelling urine.
• For women — pelvic pain in the center of the pelvis and around the pubic bone.

If you have been experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, contact your doctor and go in for a check-up to receive a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment. 

Untreated UTI infections can quickly become very serious and even life-threatening. This is because, with UTIs, there is a risk the infection will move through your body. An untreated bladder infection can, in some cases, become a kidney infection, resulting in other serious infections that can eventually move into your bloodstream. If the infection moves into your bloodstream, sepsis can occur, and you will become very sick.

Dr. Pedro P. Ylisastigui, MD, PA, is a top-rated primary healthcare physician located in Lehigh Acres, FL. Contact or make an appointment today. We serve patients from Lehigh Acres FL, Fort Myers FL, Buckingham FL, Cypress Lake FL, Gateway FL, Cape Coral FL, Palmona Park FL, and Alva FL.